John Calvin Commentary Genesis 9:27

"God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant." — Genesis 9:27 (ASV)

God shall enlarge Japheth. In the Hebrew words יפת (japhte) and יפת (japheth), there is an elegant allusion. The root of the word is פתה (pathah), which, among the Hebrews, signifies to entice with smooth words, or to allure in one direction or another.

Here, however, nearly all commentators take it as signifying to enlarge. If this interpretation is accepted, the meaning will be that the descendants of Japheth, who for a time would be scattered and removed far from the tents of Shem, would eventually be increased, so that they would more closely approach them and would dwell together with them, as in a common home.

But I prefer the other version: ‘God shall gently bring back, or incline Japheth.’ Moreover, whichever interpretation we follow, Noah predicts that there will be a temporary dissension between Shem and Japheth, although he retains both in his family and calls both his lawful heirs; and that afterwards the time will come when they will again coalesce into one body and have a common home.

It is, however, absolutely certain that a prophecy is here presented concerning things unknown to humanity, of which, as the outcome eventually shows, God alone was the Author. Two thousand years and some centuries more elapsed before the Gentiles and the Jews were gathered together in one faith.

Then the sons of Shem, the greater part of whom had revolted and cut themselves off from the holy family of God, were gathered together and lived under one tabernacle. Also the Gentiles, the descendants of Japheth, who had long been wanderers and fugitives, were received into the same tabernacle.

For God, by a new adoption, has formed a people out of those who were separated, and has confirmed a fraternal union between alienated parties. This is done by the sweet and gentle voice of God, which He has spoken in the gospel; and this prophecy is still daily receiving its fulfillment, as God invites the scattered sheep to join His flock and gathers, on every side, those who will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

It is truly no small support for our faith that the calling of the Gentiles is not only decreed in the eternal counsel of God but is also openly declared by the mouth of the Patriarch, so that we would not think it happened suddenly or by chance that the inheritance of eternal life was offered generally to all.

But the form of the expression, Japheth shall dwell in the tabernacles of Shem, commends to us that mutual society which ought to exist, and to be cherished among the faithful. For while God had chosen for Himself a Church from the descendants of Shem, He afterwards chose the Gentiles together with them, on this condition: that they should join themselves to that people who were in possession of the covenant of life.